There are few more enduring and pointless tragedies than the civil war that has raged across the island nation of Sri Lanka. That island paradise has suffered through nearly two decades of terrorism while the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam fought for their independence. Yet even as the death toll continues to climb, recent developments hold out hope for peace. With effort on the part of the government in Colombo and like-minded politicians in the opposition, and help from other nations, the people of Sri Lanka may yet find some respite from their bloody, senseless war.
The fighting began in 1993, when the Tamil Tigers launched their war to create an independent nation for the minority Tamil people in areas of northern and eastern Sri Lanka. The Tamil people, mostly Hindus, originally came to the country as migrant workers from southern India and had long complained of discriminatory treatment by the Buddhist Sinhalese, who make up 75 percent of the population. Military engagements and savage random acts of terror have killed 60,000 people and driven thousands of Tamil refugees into cities such as Colombo, where they work in menial jobs. While the front lines have shifted, the two sides have battled to a stalemate. People continue to die, but no progress is made.
Five years ago, President Chandrika Kumaratunga drew up a peace plan that offered some autonomy to the Tamils, but it languished as a result of opposition in Parliament. After winning a second term as president last December, Mr. Kumaratunga dusted off the plan. This time, the opposition, chastened by its electoral defeat, agreed to support the bill, if it offered real power to the Tamils.